Press Statement By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Penang On 10.5.2014.

Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow should be congratulated for adopting MCA’s dirty tactics of using the mainstream media to either black out or downplay DAP’s replies on their lies over the proposed implementation of hudud law by PAS and UMNO. I will respond to Teng’s latest false attacks against the DAP for telling “three bluffs” on PAS’ intention to implement the hudud law.

I answer Teng’s 3 lies with the expectation that Teng would explain why UMNO President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak can decide on BN Malaysia’s stand to support PAS implementing hudud on Muslims in Kelantan in Najib’s position as BN Chairman but Teng can not decide on BN Penang position as BN Penang Chairman. In contrast, I can state as Penang Chief Minister, that the PR Penang state government and Penang PR will not implement hudud in Penang as it was never part of PR national or state 2013 general election manifesto.

If the mainstream media obediently fail to publish this in full, Teng need not answer why as Penang BN Chair, he does not possess the same powers over Penang BN as Najib has over BN Malaysia in deciding BN Malaysia’s stand. Is this a classic example of MCA and Gerakan “being in government but do not rule” or is Teng just simply being quietly obedient to UMNO?

I will expose Teng’s 3 lies as follows. One, Teng is being dishonest by not revealing that in all PR documents signed, that implementing hudud is a PAS not a PR agenda and that PAS has a right to pursue the Islamic law just as DAP has a right to oppose PAS doing it. In the statement signed by both PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and myself, why did Teng not mention that our respective struggle and co-operation is subject to the Federal Constitution?

That is the reason DAP opposes the implementation of hudud law because it is unconstitutional. That is the reason why hudud did not become PR policy because all 3 parties of PAS, DAP and PKR must agree. As DAP’s position has not changed, implementation of hudud is not PR policy. However, it is different in BN because BN’s policy does not depend on Gerakan or MCA agreeing. In BN, UMNO’s position supporting PAS implementing hudud in Kelantan is BN’s position.

Is Teng following MCA Deputy President Wee Ka Siong’s dishonesty when Wee said that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom did not represent BN when Jamil started the entire controversy by instigating PAS in Parliament on March 27 2014 to implement hudud on Muslims in Kelantan? Jamil had said that “the federal government will be ready to work with any state government that is ready to implement hudud including Kelantan, because Umno Kelantan assemblypersons had supported the passing of Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment II to implement hudud in 1993”.

How can Wee say that Jamil did not represent BN to support PAS implementing hudud in Kelantan when Jamil was replying on behalf of the BN government in Parliament? As a former Deputy Minister himself, Wee should know that any replies given in Parliament is made on behalf of the BN government not just on behalf only of either MCA or UMNO. This is the principle of collective responsibility in government.

Teng has also made another lie by claiming that the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Council (MAINPP) is a state agency. As the Chairman and members of MAINPP are recommended by the state government for final approval by the King, Teng argues that the Chief Minister should direct MAINPP to retract its support for implementing hudud in Kelantan.

Is Teng so ignorant of the fact that MAINPP is an independent statutory body established by a special state law approved by The Penang State Assembly on 15th April 1959 and named as Islamic Administration Law 1959? MAINPP is similar to the Auditor-General Office. Once appointed, the government does not interfere in the AG’s audit reports except to explain and justify expenditures.

As a former EXCO member, Teng should know that the Chief Minister, as a non-Muslim, does not interfere in MAINPP affairs. By asking me to interfere, is Teng implying that Koh Tsu Koon had previously interfered in MAINPP? Dato Salleh Man as MAINPP Chairman can give his views but ultimately it is the state government that decides whether to accept or not. And the Penang state government has decided that the hudud law will not be implemented in Penang.

Teng said thirdly, based on a newspaper cutting on September 2010, former Johor DAP chief and the present Johor Opposition Leader Dr Boo Cheng Hou had expressed his support for hudud. I was in Johor Baru for a DAP Geylang Patah Dinner last night with Dr Boo and Dr Boo was angered by Teng’s lie. Dr Boo had publicly said in his speech last night that he had never supported hudud. If Teng can prove his allegations against Dr Boo, then DAP will take stern action against Dr Boo. However if Teng fails to prove this false report in the newspaper cutting, then Teng should fully apologise to Dr Boo and retire from politics.

Teng should adopt former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s suggestion made in Malaysiakini of his full agreement with the DAP that only UMNO can stop the implementation of hudud law in Kelantan. As UMNO controls the largest number of MPs(88) in Parliament, only UMNO and UMNO alone shall determine the success or failure in PAS’ attempt to implement hudud in Kelantan. For that reason Chua said that it is only logical that UMNO must be convinced not to support PAS implementing hudud in Kelantan. Can MCA and Gerakan convince UMNO?